Public Health Journal Encourages Closing
Schools For at Least 8 Weeks in a Pandemic

Pandemic computer simulations now suggest that at least 8-weeks
of school closures and possibly quarantining students in their
homes would be an effective course of action to significantly
decrease the spread of infection.

The authors claim that closing schools for less than two weeks
during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong
an epidemic, say University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study
published ahead-of-print and online in the Journal of Public Health
Management and Practice. The conclusions are based on strictly
simulated models and do not represent practical or applied pandemic
principles.

The scientific models are formed around researchers expressing
their opinions on models which have never been practically applied
to any infectious disease or pandemic. They typically refer to
other pseudoscientific models which have no historical foundation,
are extremely abstract or very poorly studied with the lowest
scientific rationale imaginable.

"Although closing schools may seem like a reasonable way
to slow the spread of flu, we found that it was not effective
unless sustained for at least eight weeks after implementation,"
said study lead author, Bruce Lee, M.D., M.B.A., assistant professor
or medicine, epidemiology and biomedical informatics, University
of Pittsburgh.

Again, the statement by Lee has no foundation or supporting evidence
in any practical setting. The conclusions are just as imaginary
as the simulated model.

Lee claims that closing schools quickly at the start of an outbreak
was much less important than keeping them closed continually throughout
the epidemic.

According to study authors, short-duration school closures can
increase transmission rates by returning susceptible students
back to school in the middle of an epidemic when they are most
vulnerable to infection.
Marco Torres is a research specialist, writer and consumer advocate
for healthy lifestyles. He holds degrees in Public Health and
Environmental Science and is a professional speaker on topics
such as disease prevention, environmental toxins and health policy.